Periodicals > Federation Focus > Class 11, Issue 50

Name: The "Panties War" After the German Reunification
Authors: Hostettler, Rolf
Indexed Date: 21 Jun. 2021
Index Status: Complete
Original Language: English
Genre: Non-Fiction
Citation: Hostettler, Rolf. “The 'Panties War' After the German Reunification.” Federation Focus, Class 11, Issue 50, Dec. 2019, p. 5, https://downloads.inf-fni.org/download/218/2019/1343/focus-december-2019-en-2.pdf

Summary

During the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), naturism and nudism were prevalent as a way of life, initially opposed by authorities but eventually gaining acceptance as a form of silent protest against daily conformity. Despite initial attempts by the government to ban naked swimming, public nude bathing was eventually declared legal on designated beach sections, leading to a mass movement with no formal organization. However, after the reunification in 1990, the "Panties War" erupted as some individuals from West Germany reattributed beach sections, leaving less attractive areas for naturists.